Jon Hanson, of South Coast Office Supply, joins Coos Bay City Council
COOS BAY, Ore. - The Coos Bay City Council bares a new face this evening, as a local business owner is selected to replace Joanie Johnson.
Johnson shocked city residents when she cited health reasons as forcing her to resign from the council.
Mayor Shoji and five councilors then had to decide the best way to move forward. The Coos Bay charter gives three options: accept letters of interest and then conduct interviews, simply appoint the candidate who got the fourth highest vote total in the last election, or appoint a new councilor through majority vote.
They decided on the first choice and went to work interviewing three candidates who submitted letters. Those candidates were Jon Hanson with South Coast Business Supply, Howard Forte, a manager at Coos Bay Toyota, and Pastor Bill Davis of the Coos Bay Presbyterian Church.
Mayor Crystal Shoji tells the room, "we haven't discussed this or anything. We just listened to all of you. I think it's a hard decision and we have three excellent candidates, so now the council will vote and these will be tallied."
After the votes were tallied, Mayor Shoji announced that Jon Hanson was selected to join the council. He will hold the position until November, when it's time for reelection.
The appointed person must be a qualified voter, must have resided within the city for one year immediately preceding the appointment, and must not be a paid employee of the city.
Johnson shocked city residents when she cited health reasons as forcing her to resign from the council.
Mayor Shoji and five councilors then had to decide the best way to move forward. The Coos Bay charter gives three options: accept letters of interest and then conduct interviews, simply appoint the candidate who got the fourth highest vote total in the last election, or appoint a new councilor through majority vote.
They decided on the first choice and went to work interviewing three candidates who submitted letters. Those candidates were Jon Hanson with South Coast Business Supply, Howard Forte, a manager at Coos Bay Toyota, and Pastor Bill Davis of the Coos Bay Presbyterian Church.
Mayor Crystal Shoji tells the room, "we haven't discussed this or anything. We just listened to all of you. I think it's a hard decision and we have three excellent candidates, so now the council will vote and these will be tallied."
After the votes were tallied, Mayor Shoji announced that Jon Hanson was selected to join the council. He will hold the position until November, when it's time for reelection.
The appointed person must be a qualified voter, must have resided within the city for one year immediately preceding the appointment, and must not be a paid employee of the city.
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